Sports history is filled with wild stories that sound too crazy to be real. While some of them turn out to be myths, others are shockingly true—even if they seem like something straight out of a movie.
From bizarre pregame rituals to legendary moments with unexpected twists, here are 10 sports urban legends that actually happened.
10. Michael Jordan Was Cut from His High School Basketball Team
It’s hard to believe that the greatest basketball player of all time was once cut from a team. While the full story is that Jordan was only cut from varsity as a sophomore (and dominated JV instead), the fact that a coach once told him “not this year” is still legendary.
9. Wade Boggs Drank Over 60 Beers in One Day
According to teammates, Hall of Famer Wade Boggs once crushed over 60 beers on a cross-country flight. The story became so infamous that it inspired an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Boggs himself has never completely denied it.
8. The Baltimore Ravens Were Named Because of Edgar Allan Poe
It sounds like a joke, but it’s true—the Baltimore Ravens are literally named after Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven. The city embraced its literary history, proving that sports and poetry make an unlikely but awesome combo.
7. The Chicago Cubs Were Cursed by a Goat
For over a century, Cubs fans blamed their championship drought on a tavern owner and his pet goat, who were kicked out of Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series. The “Curse of the Billy Goat” became legendary, and when the Cubs finally won in 2016, it felt like baseball’s weirdest hex had finally been lifted.
6. Babe Ruth “Called His Shot” in the 1932 World Series
It’s one of baseball’s most iconic moments—Babe Ruth pointing to center field before blasting a home run in the World Series. While some argue it was just a lucky coincidence, grainy footage and eyewitness accounts suggest the legend might actually be true.
5. A College Football Coach Got Fired Because of a Raccoon Bite
In 1978, Texas Tech football coach Jim Carlen was forced out after his pet raccoon bit a child. While his actual firing was likely about more than just an angry raccoon, the fact that this incident played a role makes it one of the strangest coaching departures ever.
4. A Hall of Fame Goalie Played a Full NHL Game Drunk
Gump Worsley, a legendary NHL goalie, once played an entire game while completely hammered. He thought he was getting the night off, downed a few drinks, and then was thrown into action at the last second—because nothing says old-school hockey like playing drunk.
3. The Madden Curse is a Real Thing
For years, players who landed on the cover of Madden NFL seemed to suffer brutal injuries or career slumps. While it’s probably just a coincidence, names like Michael Vick, Peyton Hillis, and even Patrick Mahomes have made it hard to ignore.
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2. Tiger Woods Won the 2008 U.S. Open on a Broken Leg
Playing with a torn ACL and stress fractures in his leg, Tiger limped his way through 91 holes to win the 2008 U.S. Open. It’s one of the most unbelievable displays of toughness in sports history, proving that even at half-strength, Tiger was still unbeatable.
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1. Cal Ripken Jr. May Have Had His Streak Saved by a Power Outage
Rumor has it that Ripken was too injured to play one night after allegedly fighting Kevin Costner (yes, that Kevin Costner) over an off-field scandal. Conveniently, the stadium lights “malfunctioned,” and the game was postponed, keeping Ripken’s legendary streak alive—while the truth behind the story remains one of baseball’s greatest mysteries.
